attire

[uh-tahyuhr]

verb (used with object)

attired, attiring 

1. to dress, array, or adorn, especially for special occasions, ceremonials, etc.

noun

1. clothes or apparel, especially rich or splendid garments.

2. the horns of a deer.

attire

/ əˈtaɪə /

verb

1. (tr) to dress, esp in fine elegant clothes; array

noun

1. clothes or garments, esp if fine or decorative

2. the antlers of a mature male deer

Other Word Forms

• reattire verb (used with object)
• unattired adjective
• well-attired adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attire¹

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English atiren < Anglo-French atirer, Old French atirier, verbal derivative of a tire into a row or rank ( a- ³, tier ¹ ); (noun) Middle English atir < Anglo-French, noun derivative of the v.

Word History and Origins

Origin of attire¹

C13: from Old French atirier to put in order, from tire row; see _tier ¹

Example Sentences

Her colorful attire gleams in the moonlight, and her intricate golden headdress stretches like a cone of light of its own.

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“Formal attire requested”? “There will be dancing on the terrace”? “Regrets only”? Then she sighed and put down her pen, for the spell of pretending was broken.

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Is Ridge Sabio costumed in the appropriate attire of time period?

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The women would be attired in colorful ball gowns—blush pink, scarlet, sapphire blue, and forest green—and the men in tuxedos.

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She’s also draped in fur—standard attire for a black bear.

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Related Words

• apparel 
• clothes 
• costume 
• dress 
• garb 
• getup 
• habit 
• uniform 
• vestment